Tag Archives: Craft Beer

This blog presents a perfect opportunity to explore topics relating to beer outside of just which beer we’re drinking each week. It’s in this spirit that I’ve invited Genevieve (@Einley) to become a contributor to the site.

Genevieve is one of the core members of the #beerclub. She’s attended every single virtual meeting and even though she hasn’t liked every beer we’ve tried, she keeps coming back to experiment. As a craft beer loving mother and wife, who’s not afraid to tell it like it is, she adds a fresh perspective to the club and I look forward to reading her thoughts on beer and beer culture in future posts.

– Mitch

The other day on twitter, @AnneSprecher posted a general question to all of her followers, “What was your first beerpiphany?” I answered back that I would have to think on that. And I did. And what I came up with was way more than the 140 characters that Twitter allows, so here is the best place to put my beerpiphany right?

In 1996, I was a student at Michigan State University. About a half an hour outside of East Lansing, in Webberville, Michigan Brewing Company opened and I made sure to visit this craft brewery. And visit often.

This new, small brewery was my beerpiphany. When it opened, it had only a few tables, a long bar, and a few beers on tap. There was a glass door that led to the brewery containing the vats of brewing beer and picnic tables with freezing temperatures where smoking was allowed. The parking lot was gravel and you had to drive through a gas station to get to the brewery.

Of course, I made quick best friends with a bartender there and would pay for one pint of

Michigan Brewing Co.

beer and drink limitless amounts of beer (and leave a nice tip). This craft beer was my beerpiphany because prior to that, I was a beer snob who only drank Labatts. This was a big deal because all of the college kids drank Busch light so Labatts was high brow. Compared to LaBatts, this new craft beer (from the only craft brewery remotely local to me) was pure heaven. I was introduced to my favorite kind of beer- IPAs and many other kinds as well.

Now Michigan Brewing Company has expanded big time. They have a pub in Lansing in addition to moving to a larger brewing facility. They paired up with Kid Rock to make BadAss Lager and have expanded their distribution.

I am grateful to them for giving me my first beerpiphany and to Anne Sprecher who made me remember such a great time in my life.